Bible Commentaries
Job 24

Verse 1

24:1 Why, seeing times {a} are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his {b} days?

(a) Thus Job speaks in his passions, and after the judgment of the flesh: that is, that he does not see the things that are done at times, nor yet has a peculiar care over all, because he does not punish the wicked or avenge the godly.

(b) When he punishes the wicked and rewards the good.

Verse 4

24:4 They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves {c} together.

(c) And for cruelty and oppression dare not show their faces.

Verse 5

24:5 Behold, [as] wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; {d} rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness {e} [yieldeth] food for them [and] for [their] children.

(d) That is, spares diligence.

(e) He and his live by robbing and murdering.

Verse 6

24:6 They reap [every one] {f} his corn in the field: and they gather the {g} vintage of the wicked.

(f) Meaning the poor man’s.

(g) Signifying that one wicked man will not spoil another, but for necessity.

Verse 8

24:8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, {h} and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.

(h) The poor are driven by the wicked into the rock and holes where they cannot lie dry for the rain.

Verse 9

24:9 They pluck the fatherless {i} from the breast, and take a pledge of {k} the poor.

(i) That is, they so pillage and plunder the poor widow that she cannot sustain herself that she may be able to nurse her baby.

Verse 11

24:11 [Which] make oil {l} within their walls, [and] tread [their] winepresses, and suffer thirst.

(l) In such places which are appointed for that purpose; meaning, that those who labour for the wicked, are pined for hunger.

Verse 12

24:12 Men {m} groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God {n} layeth not folly [to them].

(m) For the great oppression and extortion.

(n) Cry out and call for vengeance.

Verse 13

24:13 They are of those that rebel against the {p} light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.

(p) That is, God’s word, because they are reproved by it.

Verse 15

24:15 The eye also of the {q} adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth [his] face.

(q) By these particular vices and the licence of it, he would prove that God did not punish the wicked and reward the just.

Verse 18

24:18 He [is] swift as the {r} waters; their {s} portion is cursed in the earth: he beholdeth not the way of the vineyards.

(r) He flees to the waters for his succour.

(s) They think that all the world is bent against them and dare not go by the highway.

Verse 19

24:19 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: [so doth] the grave [those which] {t} have sinned.

(t) As the dry ground is never full with waters, so will they never cease sinning till they come to the grave.

Verse 20

24:20 {u} The womb shall forget him; the worm shall feed sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and wickedness shall be broken as a tree.

(u) Though God tolerates the wicked for a time, yet their end will be vile destruction, and in this point Job commits to himself and shows his confidence.

Verse 21

24:21 He {x} evil entreateth the barren [that] beareth not: and doeth not good to the widow.

(x) He shows why the wicked will not be lamented, because he did not pity others.

Verse 22

24:22 He draweth also the {y} mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no [man] is sure of life.

(y) He declares that after the wicked have destroyed the weakest, they will do the same to the stranger, and therefore are justly punished by God’s judgments.

Verse 25

24:25 And if [it be] not {z} [so] now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?

(z) That is, contrary to your reasoning no man can give perfect reasons for God’s judgments, let me be reproved.